Bello calls on private sector employers to treat their workers as partners

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III yesterday urged private sector employers to treat their workers as partners in their businesses to create a more conducive environment to encourage increased productivity and competitiveness.

"I urge all employers to treat your employees as your partners. Give your employees the mandatory benefits that are due them, including security of tenure," said Bello.

He added that employers should comply with general labor and occupational safety and health standards.

The Labor and Employment Secretary said that poor working conditions affect the health and productivity of the workers.

"There are reports that workers in this industry have low wages and they have little or no access to paid sick days and health benefits. There is widespread contractualization in this industry," said Bello.

Meanwhile, Bello said that he is closely monitoring the progress of the DOLE Regional Offices in profiling establishments that are practicing contractualization in their respective regions.

Last month, Bello issued a memorandum directing the DOLE Regional Offices to profile contractors and subcontractors based on the findings of the Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs) of the Department.

The DOLE Regional Directors shall submit profile of contracting and subcontracting arrangements in their respective regions on 31 August 2016.

DOLE also issued Department Order No. 162 and Labor Advisory No. 10 as part of the government's effort against illegitimate contractualization.

Department Order No. 162 suspended the registration of new applicants as contractors or subcontractors under Department Order No. 18-A as part of the government's effort against illegitimate contractualization.

Labor Advisory No. 10, on the other hand, prohibits labor-only contracting and ensures strict implementation and enforcement of workers' right to security of tenure.

"Illegitimate contractualization or 'endo' are practices which constitute labor-only contracting or other similar arrangements where the duration of employment is fixed for a short period for purposes of circumventing workers' rights to security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining, labor standards, and other basic workers' rights," said Bello.

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